Inspire 2012

Bringing three Britons to the South Pole, this expedition wishes to reinforce the London 2012 messages of inclusion, participation and accessibility; and help inspire a generation during the excitement preceding the London Olympic and Paralmypic Games.

Inspire is a project to get a British Olympian, Paralympian and Special Olympics Athlete skiing to the South Pole under their own steam during the build up to the London 2012 Olympic Games. In doing so, the expedition wihshes to reinforce the London 2012 messages of inclusion, participation and accessibility; and help inspire a generation during the excitement preceding the London Olympic and Paralmypic Games.

Here are the three athletes.

Derek Redmond : one of Britain’s greatest ever 400m athletes with World, European and Commonwealth Gold Medals in the 4x400m sprint. Derek famously snapped his hamstring in the Barcelona 1992 semi-final, struggled to his feet and hobbled to the finish line in one of the most enduring scenes of the modern Olympics.

Marc Woods : he had his left leg amputated because of cancer when he was 17. The day after he had his stitches out he was back in the swimming pool. In 17 years of competitive swimming, Marc won a staggering twelve Paralympic medals from five Games, including four gold.

Declan Kerry : he is a most Consistent Performer 2009 for the Special Olympics Ellesmere Port & Neston Football Team : Dec has also been selected for the 2011 World Games in Athens.

The Expedition departs December 2011 for six weeks arriving at the South Pole in January 2012. The team will be skiing alone and without re-supply, carrying all the necessary food and equipment for four weeks on the ice. Conditions they can expect to encounter include crevasses, zero visibility, giant ice ridges and hurricane force winds exacerbating temperatures of -30°C.